Dublin pair to feature in first episode of new TG4 series exploring Ireland’s musical heritage

Dublin pair Peter Browne (Blackrock) and Aidan Connolly (Templeogue) to feature in first episode of new TG4 series exploring Ireland’s musical heritage.

Leading Irish traditional musicians and singers draw from inspiring archival materials to uncover the stories of some exceptional traditional musicians, singers, collectors, and regions in brand-new series Taoscadh ón Tobar coming to TG4 and TG4.ie.

The Irish Traditional Music Archive’s (ITMA) flagship artistic series ‘Drawing from the Well’ launched in 2020 with the aim of connecting Ireland’s leading traditional musicians, singers, and dancers with ITMA’s rich archival material to inspire new works of art.

In partnership with TG4, ITMA now bring this concept to the small screen in ‘Taoscadh ón Tobar’ as five new artists uncover the stories of significant musicians, singers, collectors, and regions.

Through performances, interviews, and research, they draw from the deep ‘well’ of traditional music.

Ep 1 – 12/5/24 at 9.30pm

Italian-born fiddle player Andrea Palandri (from Venice, Italy, now living in Baile na bhFionnúrach, Baile na nGall, Co. Kerry), traces the life and music of Sliabh Luachra fiddle master and teacher Pádraig O’Keeffe. He meets musicians and researchers, including Matt Cranitch (Ballincollig, Co. Cork) and Peter Browne (Blackrock, Dublin), who have followed Pádraig’s life and uncovers previously unheard recordings. Throughout his journey, Andrea is joined by friends and fellow musicians to perform music associated with O’Keeffe including Clíodhna, Eoin and Cormac Begley (Cuas, Baile na nGall, Tralee, Co. Kerry), Nicky McAullife (Castleisland, Co Kerry), and Aidan Connolly (Templeogue, Dublin).

Ep 2 -19/5/24 at 9.15pm

Cúil Aodha native Iarla Ó Lionáird studies the songs of his locality as collected by Alexander Martin Freeman in the early 1900’s. He highlights the social context, and musical richness, of “Songs from Ballyvourney”   and performs significant songs from the collection including “Loch Léin” and “Aililiú na Gamhna”.

Ep 3 -26/5/24 at 10pm

Doireann Ní Ghlacáin uncovers the story of fellow Dublin fiddle player Bridget Kenny, dubbed “The Queen of Irish Fiddlers” by Captain Francis O’Neill. She pays homage to Mrs. Kenny, busking on a crowded Thomas Street , just around the corner from where she once lived.

Ep 4 -2/6/24 at 11.10pm

Seán McElwain highlights the music of Sliabh Beagh, a border area where counties Tyrone, Fermanagh, and Monaghan meet. He recalls local collector James Whiteside, studies the manuscripts, interviews historians, and performs tunes from the collection along side a host of musical guests.

Ep 5 -9/6/24 at 9.30pm

Singer Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh performs a deep dive on the songs of Seán de hÓra, a standard bearer of the tradition, and the only ever Oireachtas winner to hail from Corca Dhuibhne. She interviews friends and family of de hÓra to gleam a deeper insight into his personal life.